This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 13 readers including Grand Canyon with the Colorado River, several BIG birds, and more greens than usual.
Diane and Nigel chose #412. One of few places to see the Colorado River in the depths of Grand Canyon from the North Rim is the top of Angels Window, where they didn’t go while visiting the canyon. So now they know what it looks like from there.
Cathy chose #5823. This Raven appeared to be eyeballing the dripping water, seen far right, from the seep spring called Mossy Cave at Bryce Canyon National Park.
Doris chose #4336. I don’t consider myself an OCD birder but do like to watch birds, especially while on safari in South Africa because those birds are unique to me. Like this Saddle-billed Stork seen in Kruger National Park during February, 2014.
Jeff chose #1204. Near and far view from Vista Encantada overlook on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park. Brady Peak maybe two miles away while the distant Echo Cliffs about 60 miles of flight across the Marble Plateau.
Sue chose #2021 “hoping for a shift in energy as the year changes.” As we all are. A fern is something she sees regularly in the Pacific Northwest. Yet for me more unique in the Southwest. This seen along a northern section of the Arizona Trail.
Lisa chose #100. Look closely for Carson coming down stream in Cave Creek where I was the camp host on the Siskiyou National Forest just down the road from Oregon Caves where I worked during summer 2007.
Jennifer chose #2222. The metal nursing camel sculpture by Ricardo Breceda is one of many metal animals to be seen Around Borrego Springs, California. There’s even a dragon.
Yogi chose #2108. It’s a 3000 foot drop and iconic view of the Colorado River upstream from Toroweap. Definitely worth the long rough ride.
Gypsy chose #62, a new old friend met IRL while camped in Congress. These hawks had injuries beyond rehabilitation and lived in the California Living Museum when I worked there as an animal keeper during 1989 in Bakersfield.
Rita gets #63 for the number of words in her comment. This Golden Eagle also from the California Living Museum.
Jim and Diana chose #1139, “for the time of this morning’s SpaceX resupply mission launch to the ISS.” This Cooper’s hawk was not ready to launch and instead wanted to eat whatever, taken through a window in Yarnell, Arizona.
Jodee and Bill chose #1465. Another Colorado River view this time from Walhalla overlook on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.
Susie chose #4923. Another Grand Canyon view westward, can’t see the river, from Crazy Jug Point, a favorite camp spot on the Kaibab National Forest.
My choice, you are likely to see more than once as it’s my favorite so far, from my current camp Kofa of sunset over the Chocolate Mountains. I just can’t get enough of this place and am labeling photos from January’s visit. I might call it, one of my homes because I love the yard.
Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories. For more of the story just follow the links. Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment below.
Do you have a favorite this week?
That saguaro is my favorite this week, although I do love Golden Eagles. Let’s do 1121 for next week, the time of today’s SpaceX launch of a new SiriusXM satellite.
Thanks. I love when I can make the rays show. #1121 for next week.
South Africa sure does have some colorful but strange looking birds. #9751 for next week please.
I hope you followed the bird link to see more. Unusual to visitors. Guess it’s what you get used to. #9751 for next week.
Your hawk pictures remind me of a story.
My friend lived near a raptor rehab facility near Boulder. Their kitten went missing, only to return a few days later with four punctures on one side and two on the other. Apparently he’d gone for a bit of a joyride. From that day on, he ate all of his food and the dog’s food and only ventured as far as the shadow of the house. My friend’s theory was that he was eating everything in an effort to make himself too big for a hawk to carry.
Number 5280, just for fun. The last picture was my favorite, but it was a close call!
That was one lucky kitty. #5280 for next week.
Kofa Mtns. 1,364 miles almost directly west ‘as the bird flies’ from my current location.
There is so much interest at the ground level in the desert that a shoot perspective from a position very near or on the ground can be quite interesting and beautiful, and the D5600 facilitates that nicely with the ‘Tilt & Flip LCD view screen.
You are a long way east. Good thing my Nikon has that flip because I’d otherwise have difficulty getting back up off the ground for a shot like that.
” Unexploded ordnance may be encountered during cross-country hiking.”
And, while I have never seen any, but friends have, part of the Kofa Refuge contains unexploded Ordinance. There have been some incidents with serious injuries and large explosions in the Refuge.
One should always scan the ground when in the desert as natural hazards can cause injury, too. And walk slow with a heavy footfall to give our friends the Rattlers a chance to move away or warn us.
Sadly, that is the case in much of the desert SW where the military practiced on “useless” land. I am cautious and walk so slowly it sometimes takes me an hour to get 1/4 mile.
Love our shot, we did see Angel’s window and we did see part of the Colorado river, but obviously not from the point in our photo. We love all your photos always, but we have to agree where you are at them moment is beautiful. 1112 for next week please. Have a good weekend and take care, Diane and Nigel
Yes, we did see Angels Window. Thank you for the compliment and commenting every week. Nice we’ve known each other so many years. #1112 for next week.
What a pretty fern on the AZT. The metal sculptures would be fun to see! #9001 next week please.
If you ever get to Borrego Springs there are many cool sculptures. #9001 for this week.
I love all the photos this week, especially the canyon shots. My number for next week is 9429
Thank you. I’m still teasing you into a trip to the SW. #9429 for next week.
Hi Gaelyn,hope all is well with you. I just love the bird photo’s especially the one of the Golden Eagle I chose , also the one of the Hawkes that is superb !!.. Favourite for this week is the Colorado River from Toroweap No 847 for next week please. Take care and stay safe.
I am well and happily in the desert, where I do see a lot of hawks, at a distance. #847 for next week.
Too many photos to pick a favorite … Toroweap, Borrego, North Rim and a fabulous sunset are tied toward the top of the list. Next week I’d like 1221, as the planets align and the days get longer I’m looking forward a a better year!
Thank you, even I have difficulty picking a favorite some weeks. I have hope for a better future. #1221 for next week.
That first picture of the canyon is gorgeous. I also love the unusual to me saddle billed stork. He looks more handsome than our woodstork. Your choice picture is outstanding. What a yard. You find the greatest places to park yourself. For next week, I’ll take 7777 for no reason at all.
Thanks. My preference is a yard with a big natural view. #7777 for next week.
Your canyon shots are always stunning, and the colors in that first pic are exceptional!! Love all the birds, such a great variety.
#1643 for next week please
Thank you, it is hard to go wrong at the canyon. #1643 for this week.
This week was even more exceptional than last, Gaelyn. How to pick a favorite.?? Maybe not my favorite, but I’ll choose the Pteridium aquilinum, western bracken fern. Recognized it from years and years of soil survey all over the west. It grows a lot in logged over areas as I am sure you know, and it is one of the few ferns that can handle the really dry arid conditions and hot sun of open areas, so not surprised to see it in your photo. Fun to find old friends. It was also a fern that we were told to ignore when checking for indicator plants since it grows EVERYWHERE! Next week I’ll pick 1976 for my first year mapping soils.
Thank you. I do love seeing ferns grow in AZ and provoke a memory for you. #1976 for this week.